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TORONTO, ON- JULY 21 – Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays leaves the mound after giving up three runs in the third inning as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. July 21, 2026. Steve Russell\/Toronto Star (Steve Russell\/Toronto Star via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Toronto Star via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Toronto Blue Jays entered the second half of the 2026 season knowing the margin for error had disappeared. But instead of making up ground in the American League playoff race immediately after the All-Star break, the club has stumbled, increasing the chances that veteran players could become trade candidates before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.<\/p>\n
And few names have generated more trade discussion than right-hander Kevin Gausman. The veteran starter is approaching free agency, remains one of the most experienced pitchers potentially available and has watched Toronto’s recent slide fuel growing uncertainty about the club’s direction.<\/p>\n
ForbesESPN Veteran Addresses Pat McAfee-Linked Layoffs After Phillies, Dodgers GameBy Peter Chawaga<\/a>Toronto Blue Jays\u2019 Kevin Gausman Responds To Trade Possibility<\/p>\n After Tuesday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Gausman appeared well aware of the possibility that he may have made his final home start as a member of the Blue Jays. <\/p>\n \u201cHis next turn comes up Sunday at Boston, followed by Aug. 1 at home to St. Louis, and if the Blue Jays do commit to the sell path, maybe he\u2019s traded by then, or perhaps held back, just in case,\u201d Shi Davidi wrote for Sportsnet. \u201cIt\u2019s a possibility he said he didn\u2019t consider before taking the mound, although he clearly seemed attuned to the reality, saying, \u2018not a great lasting impression.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Gausman\u2019s five-word response on the impression he left for Blue Jays fans if it was indeed his final home start before being traded away acknowledged the difficult position facing both the veteran pitcher and the organization. Rather than dismissing trade speculation, Gausman embraced the possibility of being dealt in the near future head on.<\/p>\n “It’s impossible to ignore nowadays with social media and the amount of people that are here right now,” Gausman said after Tuesday’s loss, per MLB.com\u2019s Keegan Matheson<\/a>. “We kind of all know what’s going on. Unfortunately, we knew we needed to come out of the (second-half) gate strong, and we really haven’t. We just haven’t played very well lately.”<\/p>\n